Slide fastener



v`Iuly 18, 1944. J. T. TEDESCO 2,353,858

SLIDE FASTENER Filed Feb. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l f "I l /2 .IN VENTOR.

`July 18 1944- J. T TEDESCO 2,353,853

SLIDE FASTENER Filed Feb. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V WMM/4k TTo RNEXPatented July 18,1944

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDE FASTENER John T. Tedesco, Bronx, N. Y.

Application February 16, 1943, Serial No. 476,066

' 13 claims. (c1. 24A-20s) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in slide fasteners.

More particularly, the invention proposes a slide fastener which ischaracterized by a pair of interlocking strips of resilient material,each strip of which is provided with a solid cylindrical front edgeportion and a tubular portion located rearwards of said front edgeportion and complementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubularportions being provided with side slit-like openings into which saidcylindrical portions engage said tubular portions for accomplishing theinterlocking of said strips. It is contemplated to reinforce saidresilient material strips with internal strips of metal if necessary.Furthermore, it is contemplated to provide the resilient material stripswith end stops for limiting sliding of a slider for opening and closingthe fastener.

An important object of this invention resides in the production of aslide fastener which is exceptionally simple for fastening andunfastening garments, containers. and other articles.

Another important object gained by the newconstruction is the productionof a fastener which is flexible and which does not contain any exposedmetal other than the slider for accomplishing the interlocking of theparts. By the elimination of all unnecessary metal the possibility ofinjury to ones skin has also been eliminated.

Another important object of the new construction resides in thearrangement which makes the slide fastener dustproof, water proof andrust proof.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that garments,containers and other articles provided with the fastener may be cleanedby the normal Lcleaning processes, including dry cleaning, etc., withoutinjury to the fastener.

Still further the invention proposes constructing the interlockingstrips of the fastener with flat rear edges forming webs by which thesestrips may be attached to the edges of openings to be closed by theslide fastener.

Still another important feature of the new slide fastener resides in thefact that the pair of interlocking strips of the fastener are ofidentical shape so that they may be cut from a long strip of materialand merely turned around to oppose each other for interlocking.

Still further the invention contemplates the construction of a simpleslide for interlocking and disengaging the strips of the slide fastener.

It is an object of this invention to characterize the new slide for thefastener by the fact that it includes a face wall in intimate contactwith 55 and extending across the adjacent sideedge portions of theinterlocking strips, and being connected-with an S-shape wall extendingfrom the back face thereof and encasing a small section of saidinter-engaged cylindrical and tubular portions for forcing the stripsinto interlocking positions, when the slide is moved in one direction.

Still further it is proposed to provide the slide with longitudinallyextending laterally curved fingers projecting from the end portions ofone of the edges of said S-shaped wall and engaging the front edgeportions of said straight cylindrical edge portions, holding samedisengaged from their complementary tubular portions to open theinterlocking strips when the slide is moved in the other direction.

Still further it is proposed to construct the curved fingers to beconcave in transverse cross `section so as to better engage the frontedge The invention also contemplates that the resilient material of theinterlocking strips be tough and smooth so that the slide may be easilymoved in one direction` or the other for operating the fastener.

Still further the invention proposes a slide fastener in which theinterlocking strips of resilient material may be constructed of rubberor synthetic rubber. It is contemplated that with resilient materialgarments and containers, the said interlocking strips may be integralwith edge portions thereof. In so far as the slide is concerned it isproposed to so construct the slide that it may be made from metal orcomposition material.

For further comprehension of the invention. and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appendedA claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slide fastener constructedinaccordance with this e invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of the upperportion ofFig. 1, but illustrated with the slide moved down a short distance andwith the free ends of the strips bent forwards so that their crosssectional shapes may be readily seen.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Fig, 1. Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the slide, per se.Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but illustratinga modified construction of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slide fastener constructedin accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line'I--1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar toFig. 8 'but disclosing still another modified form.

The slide fastener, in accordance with this invention, includes a pairof interlocking strips I of resilient material. Each of these strips hasa solid cylindrical front edge portion II and a tubular portion I 2located rearwards of said front edgeportion and complementary to saidcylindrical portion II. Said tubular portions I2 have side slit-likeopenings I3 through which said cylliidrical portions Il engage saidtubular portions The strips I0 have fiat rear edges I4 forming webs bywhich the strips may be attached to the edges of an opening to be closedby the slide fastener. Preferably, the strips I0 are formed from rubber,synthetic rubber, or other similar materials. Preferably, cloth strips Iare extended along and attached to the flat rear edges I4 to facilitatethe attachment of the strips to the edge portions of the openings of agarment, container or other article to be closed by the slide fastener.These cloth strips I5 may be cemented, calendered, or even stitched tothe webs I4. These cloth strips I5 may be water-proofed. Of course. ifdesired, the strips I0 may be directly attached by their webs I4 to theedges of an opening to be closed by the slide fastener, eliminating thenecessity of the cloth strips I5.

vIt should be noted that the pair of strips I0 are of identical crosssectional shapes and dimensions. For this reason they may be cut from acontinuous piece of -strip material. Thus, the strips forming the slidefastener may be manufactured in long lengths of materialwhich may be cutinto small sections, as needed. It is merely necessary to turn cutsections so that they oppose each other for producing the interlockingstrips of the slide fastener.

A slide I6 is used in conjunction with the interlocking strips. Theslide I6 includes a face wall I1 in intimate contact with and extendedacross adjacent side edge portions of said inter- 'locking strips I0. AnS-shaped wall I8 extends from the back of said face wall I'I and encasesa small section of the said inter-engaged cylindrical portions II insaid tubular portions I5. Longitudinally extending laterally curvedfingers I9 project from the end portions of one of the edges of saidS-shaped wall I8 and engage the front edge portions of said solidcylindrical edge portions II holding these edge portions disengaged fromtheir complementary tubular portions I2. A handle 20 is mounted on theface wall I1 by which the slide may be conveniently moved up and down.

In Fig. 1 the slide fastener is shown in its closed position. It may beopened by merely gripping the handle 20 and moving the slide I6downwards. As the slide I6 is moved downwardly the longitudinallyextending laterally curved lingers I9 'l5 will force the solidcylindrical'edge portions II out from their complementary tubularportions I2, thus opening the fastener. It should be noted that thelingers I9 are concave in transverse crosssection so as to conform withthe front edge portions of the solid cylindrical edge portions I I.

When the slide I6 is moved back to its raised position, the S-shapedWall I8 will force the solid cylindrical edge portions I I back intoengagement with their complementary tubular portions I2 and thus theslide fastener i's again closed. The resilient material of theinterlocking strips I0 must be tough so that the interlocking stripswill be tightly engaged with each other.. This construction makes theslide fastener water-proof and dust proof. This construction also makesit possibi for the fastener to remain closed under all possibi* loadsgenerally placed upon slide fasteners oi this nature.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed whichdistinguishes from the prior form in the fact that the web portions I4'are ollset laterally of each other. In other respects this form of theinvention is identical to the previous form and like parts areidentified by like reference numerals.

The purpose of offsetting the web portions I4' is to divide up thestresses which tend to open the fastener when it is closed and in use.Because of the offset arrangement there is a tendency for only componentparts of the forces tending to pull open the fastener to be transferredto portions of the fastener which must flex or give when the fasteneropens. Consequently, the'design shown in Fig-5 is capable of remainingclosed under slightly greater loads than the design dis;- closed in theprior form of this invention. However, the prior form of the inventionhas the advantage of symmetry with the webs I4 in a common plane.

In the modified form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6 to 8, anotherslide fastener is shown which includes a pair of` interlocking strips I0of resilient material. Each of these strips has a solid cylindricalfront edge portion II and a tubular portion I2 located rearwards of saidsolid cylindrical front edge portion II and complementary to saidcylindrical portion II. Said tubular portions l2 have side slit-likeopenings' I3 through which said cylindrical portions II engage thetubular portions I2.

The strips I0 have flat rear edges forming webs I4 by which they may beattached to the edges of an opening to be closed by the slide fastener.It should be noted that the strips are of identical cross sectionalshapes and dimensions. A slide I6' is used in conjunction with saidinterlocking strips I0. This slide includes a front face wall 22 inintimate contact with and extended across the front faces of theadjacent side edge portions of said interlocking strips I0, and a backface wall 23 in intimate contact with and extended across the back facesof the adjacent side edge portions of said interlocking strips I0. An-Sshaped wall 24 extends between the adjacent faces of said walls 22 and23 and encases a. small section of said interengaged cylindricalportions II in said tubular portions I2. A handle 25 is mounted upon thefront face wall 22 by which the slide I6' may be moved upwards anddownwards.

The slide I6' is also provided with longitudinally extending flngers 26which project from the end portions of the top edges of said S-shapedwall 24. These fingers 26 engage the adjacent edge portions of thestrips Il for holding a small section thereof disengaged. The nngers 26nll up the compass of the small section of the tubular portions i2 andengage the front edge portions of the solid cylindrical edge portionsIl, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and '7. 'I'he arrangement is such thatwhen the slide I6' is moved downwards the interlocking strips III willbe opened. When it is moved upwards the strips I will be relocked.

In Fig. 9 another modified form of the invention is disclosed which issimilar to the form mentary straight faces formed upon the edge portionsof the strips I0'. 'I'he walls 22' and 2l' have their ends bent towardseach other to form small flanges 28 which engage the edges of the flatfaces of the strips I I'.-

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previousforms and like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdeiined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a slide fastener. a pair of interlockingr strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions.

2. In a slide fastener. a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshave side slitlike openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, said interlocking strips being ofidentical cross sectional shapes and sizes so that they may be cut froma continuous strip.

3. In a slide fastener. a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge 'portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through winch said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and said strips having flat rear edgesforming webs by which the strips may be attached to the edges ofopenings to be closed by said slide fastener.

4. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, said strips having flat rear edges formingwebs by which ings to be closed by said slide fastener, and cloth stripsattached along said webs.

5. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, said resilient material being waterproofand dust proof.

6. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and a slide comprising a face wall inintimate contact with and extending across adjacent side edge portionsof said interlocking strips, an S-shaped wall extending from the back ofsaid face wall and encasing a small section of said inter-engagedcylindrical and tubular portions, and longitudinally extending laterallycurved fingers projecting from the end portions of one of the edges ofsaid S-shaped wall and engaging the front edge portions of said solidcylindrical edge portions holding same disengaged from theircomplementary tubular portions.

7. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical iront edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and a slide comprising a face wall inintimate contact with and extending across adjacent side edge portionsof said interlocking strips, an S-shaped Wall extending from the back ofsaid face wall and encasing a small section of said interengagedcylindrical and tubular portions, and longitudinally extending laterallycurved fingers projecting from the end portions of one of the edges ofsaid S-shaped wall and engaging the front edge portions of said solidcylindrical edge portions holding same disengaged from theircomplementary tubular portions, said fingers being concave in transversecross section to conform with said front edge portions.

8. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slitlike openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and a slide comprising a face Wall inintimate contact with and extending across adjacent side edge portionsof said interlocking strips, an S-shaped wall extending from the back ofsaid face wall and encasing a small section of said interengagedcylindrical and tubular portions, and longitudinally extending laterallycurved fingers projecting from the end portions of one of the edges ofsaid S- shaped wall and engaging the front edge portions of said solidcylindrical edge portions holding same disengaged from theircomplementary tubular portions, and a handle on said face wall bythestrips may be attached to the edges of open- 76 which the slide maybe moved.

9. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slitlike openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, said strips having flat rear edges formingwebs by which the strips may be attached to the edges of openings to beclosed by said slide fastener, said webs being in a common plane.

10. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slit-like openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and said strips having flat rear edgesforming Webs bY which the strips maybe attached to the edges of openingsto be closed by said slide fastener, said webs being in slightly oisetparallel planes.

11. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slitlike openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and a slide comprising front and back facewalls in intimate contact with and extending across adjacent side edgeportions of the front and back faces of said interlocking strips, anS-shaped wall extending between said face walls and encasing a smallsection of said interengaged cylindrical and tubular portions, andlongitudinally extending fingers projecting from one of the edges ofsaid S-shaped wall and engaging in said tubular portions and against thefront edge portions of said solid cylindrical edge portions holding asmall section of said interlocking strips disengaged from theircomplementary tubular portions.

12. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a interlocking strips, an S-shaped wallextendingbetween said face walls and encasing a small section of saidinterengaged cylindrical and tubular portions, and longitudinallyextending fingers projecting from one of the edges of said S -shapedwall and engaging in said tubular portions and against the front edgeportions of said solid cylindrical edge portions holding a small sectionof said interlocking strips disengaged from their complementary tubularportions, said front and back face walls being at and straight.

13. In a slide fastener, a pair of interlocking strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a solid cylindrical front edge portion and atubular portion located rearwards of said front edge portion andcomplementary to said cylindrical portion, and said tubular portionshaving side slitlike openings through which said cylindrical portionsengage said tubular portions, and a slide comprising front and back facewalls in intimate contact with and extending across adjacent side edgeportions of the front and back faces of said interlocking strips, anS-shaped wall extending between said face walls and encasing a smallsection of said interengaged cylindrical and tubular portions, andlongitudinally extending fingers projecting from one of the edges ofsaid S-shaped wall and engaging in said tubular portions and against thefront edge portions of said solid cylindrical edge portions holding asmall section of said interlocking strips disengaged from theircomplementary tubular portions. said front and back face walls being atand straight, and having inturned edge portions engaging complementaryedges on the face of said interlocking strips.

JOHN T. TEDESCO.I

